5 Ways To Avoid PNC Bank Monthly Maintenance Fees

As with most banks, PNC Bank’s monthly maintenance fees can be avoided by understanding how the financial institution’s products work. Few people read the fine print when they sign up with a bank. There are lots of boring — and sometimes confusing — rules and requirements in a bank’s terms and conditions sheet, but if you can power through it, you’ll also find valuable information on how to work around the monthly fees.

PNC Bank fees are similar to other banking institutions’, but the bank gives customers the option of avoiding them by maintaining a minimum balance and keeping deposit activity regular. GOBankingRates has closely examined PNC’s fine print for you, so you know what to expect before you open a checking or savings account.

Here’s everything you need to know about PNC bank fees, and most importantly, how you can avoid them.

How To Avoid PNC Bank Monthly Maintenance Fees

It’s important to find ways to save on a bank’s monthly maintenance fees before you open an account — especially if you’re looking at a savings account to benefit from the interest you can earn. Considering that the PNC Bank savings account fee is as high as $12 per month, you’d have to keep a very high balance to earn more in interest than the monthly fee you’d pay.

Luckily, there are several ways you can avoid PNC Bank monthly maintenance fees. The best part is, you only have to meet one of the many options to save yourself some cash.

1. Maintain a Minimum Checking Account Balance

PNC Bank requires you to keep a minimum amount of money in your accounts to avoid fees. To get your PNC checking account fees waived, keep the following minimum average monthly balances:

Standard Checking: $500

Foundation Checking: Waiver not available

Interest and Performance Checking: $2,000

Performance Select Checking: $5,000

2. Maintain a Minimum Savings Account Balance

As with the bank’s checking accounts, PNC Bank savings account fees will be waived if you keep a minimum amount of money saved away. You’ll need to keep the following minimum average monthly balances:

Standard Savings: $300

Premier Money Market: $5,000

3. Link Your Bank Accounts

When you link your checking and savings accounts, PNC will add up all your balances and use the total as your monthly average balance, helping you avoid fees. Here’s how much you’ll need in combined account balances to skip the monthly maintenance fees for all accounts:

Standard Checking: Waiver not available

Foundation Checking: Waiver not available

Interest Checking: Waiver not available

Performance Checking: $10,000

Performance Select Checking: $25,000

4. Set Up Direct Deposit

You can get the PNC Bank monthly maintenance fee waived when you have your employer direct deposit your paycheck to your account every month. Direct deposits save you time and money. You won’t have to worry about going to the bank on Fridays to deposit your paycheck, and you’ll have the chance to get your monthly banking fee waived. Here are the minimum amounts you’ll need in direct deposits:

Standard Checking: $500

Foundation Checking: Waiver not available

Interest Checking: Fee waiver for direct deposit not available

Performance Checking: $2,000 or $1,000 for military and WorkPlace banking members

Performance Select Checking: $5,000

5. Take Advantage of PNC’s Bank Waiver Based on Your Age

Besides all the previously mentioned opportunities to save on the monthly banking fees, you can save money if you’re a senior. PNC Bank will waive the $7 per month maintenance fee it charges on its Standard Checking account if you’re 62 years old or older.

How To Avoid PNC Bank Bank Overdraft Fees

To avoid PNC Bank’s high overdraft fees, keep a register of your debit card spending, electronic payments and other transactions to know how much is coming out of your account and when. To avoid overdrawing your account, keep a balance of at least $200 to account for any transactions you’ve forgotten.

A single $36 overdraft fee is almost 10 coffee shop lattes — a considerable amount of money when you’re on a budget. Even worse, PNC can charge you up to four overdraft fees in one day, costing you up to $156 in a single day if you don’t stay on top of your spending. You can link your PNC savings account, and the bank will cover your overdrawn funds by transferring the amount required to your checking account for free.

How To Avoid PNC Bank ATM Fees

You can withdraw from PNC’s ATM network for free. Going outside of the network will cost you $3 per transaction. But you can still enjoy the convenience of free ATMs with the following accounts, which will reimburse a certain amount of out-of-network fees:

Getting the Most Out of Your PNC Bank Bank Account

Look for PNC bank promotions for more earnings on your money. There are three current promotions that will earn you up to $300 as a cash bonus. Even better, you’ll also avoid PNC Bank monthly maintenance fees if you follow the steps to qualify.

Save for Your Future

Sponsors of

Virtual Wallet Checking Account: Earn $50 if you set up at least $500 in qualifying direct deposits per month.

Virtual Wallet with a Performance Spend Checking Account: Earn $200 if you set up at least $2,000 in qualifying direct deposits per month.

Virtual Wallet with a Performance Select Checking Account: Earn $300 if you set up at least $5,000 in qualifying direct deposits per month.

Avoiding PNC Bank Monthly Maintenance Fees Is Achievable

PNC offers many sought-after banking services, such as a wide network of ATMs, online banking and a variety of checking and saving products that earn interest. Unfortunately, the bank’s fees can add up. But there are several ways you can avoid PNC Bank fees. Some include linking your accounts together to meet PNC’s minimum balance, setting up your paycheck as a direct deposit and using PNC ATMs to make withdrawals.

This content is not provided by PNC. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by PNC.

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